Vulnerable man beaten with gas cylinder in home during horror aggravated burglary

The victim (57) was targeted when two masked intruders raided his home in the Old Golf Links Road area of Kilkenny city at around 9.30pm on Sunday, November 21.

The burglars knocked on the door of the house before storming in and demanding cash and jewellery.

Senior sources said gardaí are mystified as to why the man, who lives on his own, was targeted, as he does not have access to either of these items.

While making the demands, the gang used a large empty gas cylinder to beat the man, who suffered multiple serious injuries in an ordeal in the sitting room of his home which lasted for around an hour.

The two criminals, who spoke with local accents, searched the property before escaping with the victim's mobile phone and drove off in his red van.

This van was later found by gardaí on the outskirts of Kilkenny city and was the subject of a forensic examination.

After the raiders fled his home, the badly injured victim made his way into a bedroom of his property, where he remained for up to 10 hours before he was found the following morning by a nurse who called the house.

"As his phone had been stolen, he had no means of contacting anyone for help, his van had been stolen and he was too badly hurt to leave the house," a senior source said.

Emergency services were notified and he was rushed to University Hospital Waterford, where he required surgery on his injuries. The victim was later transferred to St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny when his condition stabilised.

However, he is still receiving medical treatment and may never return to live in his home, sources say.

"This man is a vulnerable person was living alone and gardaí have no idea why he was targeted," a senior source said.

"Gardaí believe that this crime was carried out by local criminals for a number of reasons, including the description of their accents and the fact they did not seem to have their own weapons with them.

"Instead they used a gas cylinder which was owned by the victim to beat him with in their unsuccessful attempt to get cash or jewellery which was not even in the house."

There has been no arrests made in the case, which is being investigated by Kilkenny gardaí. They previously appealed for anyone who was driving in the area between 7pm and midnight on November 21 to contact them.